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When a disaster strikes, access to vital medical services is limited. Your donations are providing medical support to those affected.

Image courtesy of Direct Relief

When disaster strikes, it is children and the elderly who often suffer the most, especially those living in poverty. The ability to act swiftly is critical in emergency response and — as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have shown us — major disasters can strike in quick succession, making the need for ready resources even more important. That is why the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund made grants to organizations like Children’s Health Fund and Direct Relief that mobilized quickly to service the health clinics and meet the unique needs of suffering children, including routine, trauma, psychosocial and mental health care.

Days after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Gulf Coast, patients of Children’s Health Fund South Florida program braced for Hurricane Irma. These families found relief at local shelters where they shared rooms with other families. Many children who lived through Irma showed no outward signs of injury. However, the Children’s Health Fund Miami team knows that the mental health impacts of the stress of the storm may not become apparent for months afterward.

The Children’s Health Fund Emergency Response Fund, supported by the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund provided a new medical unit for Southwest Florida, which will allow CHF to quickly deploy to the scene of a disaster to support children and families who immediately need their help, and will them the resources necessary to address long-term recovery, an often long and arduous process.

Image courtesy of Children’s Health Fund

Hand in Hand Partner Highlight: Direct Relief

Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. Direct Relief has been active in emergency storm and flood-related responses around the world for decades.

With support from Hand in Hand, Direct Relief was able to respond immediately to Hurricanes Havey, Irma, and Maria to deliver over one million pounds of medical supplies to health clinics that serve the needs of impacted and impoverished communities.

The populations that Direct Relief supports on an ongoing basis are especially vulnerable in natural disasters, as low-income and underserved families often lack the financial means to escape an approaching hurricane or other emergency. And when people do flee their homes, they often are not able to bring their medications with them, which can be particularly dangerous if they suffer from chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease.